HOSCHTON - Joel Thomas Conway, Jr., 34, died Monday, October 31, 2011 due to injuries sustained in a single car accident.

He was born in Riverdale on September 7, 1977 and was the son of Joel Thomas, Sr. and Mary Conway. He joined an older sister, Jill.

After graduation from Lassiter High School in Marietta in 1996, Joel enrolled at Cumberland University where he also played football. Sidelined due to an injury, Joel continued his education at Valdosta State University graduating in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. He then went on to complete a Master’s of Arts in Teaching at LaGrange College in 2002. He began his teaching and coaching career at Woodstock High School in that fall. In the summer of 2008, he moved with his wife to Jackson County and began teaching social studies and coaching both football and baseball at Jackson County Comprehensive High School. Earlier this year, he joined his wife at East Jackson County Comprehensive High School as a social studies teacher, football coach, and baseball coach.
Joel loved his job and couldn’t imagine a life without coaching. Some of his favorite memories have come from his involvement with high school sports. He was extremely proud of his players who went on to play at the collegiate and professional level. Joel was also an avid hunter and had looked forward to a trip with friends after football season to begin his deer hunting season.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, November 3, at Zion Baptist Church with the Revs. Chris Laskey, Russell Harbin, Coach Billy Kirk and Drew Lawson officiating. Pallbearers will be Coach Kirk, Coach Cole, Coach Smith, Coach Aldridge, Coach Gilstrap, Coach Reid, Coach Lindsay and Jason Parker. Honorary pallbearers will be the East and West Jackson High School Football and Baseball Coaches. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 2 at Zion Baptist Church, 2001 Cherry Dr., Braselton, GA 30517.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in memory of Coach Joel Thomas Conway, Jr., at Hometown Community Bank, 55 Freedom Pkwy., Suite 101, Hoschton, GA 30548.

Nothing Gold Can Stay
by Robert Frost
Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

I want to express my sympathy to the family of Joel Conway. Mary & Tom and the family are in my prayers. I knew J.T. when he was a little boy & worked with his Mom. He was a sweet child and will be missed.

((((((HUGS)))))) to the entire Conway family. Very, very sad to hear about Coach Conway's unexpected passing and our sympathy goes out to the entire family, especially Ms. Conway & son. Since Monday, "school has not been the same", according to my daughter. The whole community is grieving.

Our deepest sympathy and condolences go out to the entire family especially Melissa and Evan. Melissa has taught 2 of my children and my daughter Sarah was in Mr.Conways fourth period class. You all are in our prayers for God to give you strength, comfort and peace during this time. May God bless you all.

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